Open Buffalo is a civic initiative to make major, long-term improvements in justice and equity in the City of Buffalo. It is an unprecedented collaboration among a diverse group of partners and allies.
Our Mission
Our mission is to advance racial, economic, and ecological justice. We do so through skill building, network connecting, and activating leadership opportunities. Our goal is for all communities in Western New York to thrive free from discrimination and poverty.
Our Vision
People directly experiencing systemic challenges and inequities that we aim to address will always have a voice in identifying the problems and developing the solutions. An empowered democratic society is key to a joyful, culturally rich community and sustainable planet.
What We Do
At Open Buffalo, we believe our role is to create an empowered democratic society by training individuals in how to identify problems and create solutions in public policy and public systems. We accomplish this through two categories of programming: Leadership Development and Advocacy & Organizing.
Our goal is to ensure that individuals who share our vision and values have the necessary skills, networks, and capacities to become leaders and create lasting change in their communities.
Our programs serve those directly impacted by systemic issues, including but not limited to, communities of color, immigrants and refugees, formerly incarcerated, LGBTQI individuals, differently-abled, low income residents, and senior populations.
Open Buffalo North Star Statement
Open Buffalo exists to dismantle systems and ideologies that harm people and the planet. We condemn the racial, economic, and ecological injustices those systems have perpetrated on people and communities on the stolen Haudenosaunee/Six Nations land that we currently call home. We collectively envision a future in which skin tone, ZIP Code, or ethnicity do not dictate life outcomes, but in which racial, economic, and ecological justice are real for all.
We work to build an organization that embodies anti-racist principles and practices including diversity in our board of directors, staff and program participants. Our work includes, but is not limited to, maintaining an anti-oppression work environment, creating welcoming and supportive programs and events, enhancing the capacity of local groups, institutions and employers to be agents of anti-racism, and forging genuine community partnerships that are grounded in justice, love, accountability, and respect for the dignity of all people.
As an organization, we honor the lived experiences, identities, and traditions of Black communities, indigenous communities, communities of color, and other historically marginalized communities through developing shared leadership and solution-focused action.
